Drag link



W. H. SPIRE DRAG LINK F'i led Nov. 192} Oct. 30', 1928. I 1,689,215

v 11v VENTOR Mum/v b. 502% ATTOk/VEY Patented Get. 30, 1928.

'WILLIAIVI H. SPIRE, OF CLEVELAND. OI-IIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THOMPSON PIEtODU'CllIS, IN-

CORPORATED, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION or onro.

DRAG LINK.

I Application filed. November 4, 1921. Serial No. 512,738.

My invention relates to drag links for use as a part of, the steering mechanism of automobiles, and ball receiving keyhole slot therein. The obiects of my invention are to design a drag link which is reinforced at the portions there of normally weakened by the ball. receiving slot, and to provide a method of manufacture in which the reinforcements are provided in the slot forming operation. I

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one embodiment of my improved drag link structure, and certain steps exemplifying my improved method, the disclosed means and steps, however, constituting but one of the various me chanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed or but one of the various ways in which the same may be carried out. I I

- In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewot the tubular drag link showing the slot initially formed in the tubing. I

Fig. 2 is a section on line II.II of Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is a plan view of the completed link.

Fig. lis a section on line iV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the completed link.

Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive show a modified form of link.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tubular drag link showing the slot which is initially formed therein. v Y I Fig. 7 is a section on line V1TVII of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the completed link.

Fig. 9 is a section on line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

In drag links of the type herein disclosed a keyhole slot is formed in the enlarged portion 2 to permit the insertion of the ball end of the connecting arm. The enlarged portion of this slot is of substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the enlarged portion 9.. The cutting of such a large to the method of forming the materially weakens the link at this point since the cut extends through nearly half the circuinference. Tn forming the slot by myimproved method I first cut, by means of a suitable punch, a slot 3 of substantially uniform width throughout. 1 then expand a portion of the slot by means of a suitable forming die which engages the metal at the edge of the slot and bends the wall of the tube outwardly at the side edges of the slot forming arcuate flanges 4.- whose inner surfaces form segments of a cylinder the axis of which is at right angles to the axis of the tube 1. The expanded portion of the slot 3 is thus widened to substantially the inner diameter of the enlarged portion 2 without cutting away the wall of the link more than necessary for the aperture in the cylindrical wall of the I narrowportion of the slot, and the link is is slightly enlarged at the end which is to,

form the ball entering portion. The edge of the slot is then turned up throughout the .en-

tire extent thereof to form a slot of the desired contour and size. The original slot 5 is so formed that when the forming operation is completed the edge of the marginal flange 6 surrounding the finished slot will lie substantially in a plane tangential to the outer surface of the cylindrical end 2 of the link.

It will be noted that by constructing the drag-link socket as above described, a reinforcement is provided without increasing the gauge of the metal comprising such socket. While such. gauge is not increased the transverse dimension of the socket adjacent to the openings is increased, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4; and 9. This increase, therefore, provides additional resistance to bending moments applied to the socket and hence forms the desirable reinforcement.

What I claim is:

1. A drag link member comprising a cylindrical socket portion of substantially uniform gauge throughout, a keyhole slot in the wall. thereof bounded by an upstanding peripheral flange of substantially the same gauge as the body of the socket portion, the end of the flange lyingv in a plane surface.

2. A drag link member comprising a cylindrical socket portion of substantially uni- I form gauge throughout, a keyhole slot forniing a circular entrance aperture in thewall of; sa d port on, the said aperture belng ,5 bounded by a flange of cylindrical curvature and of substantially the same body of the socket portion.

3. A drag link mernb er comprising a cylindrical socket portion of substantially uni gauge at th form gauge throughout, a keyhole slot in the Wall thereof bounded an upstanding peripheral fiange'o'f s'ubstantiallythe saine gauge as the body of the socket portion, the

maximum opening of the slot being of substantially the same diameter as the inside of the socket portion, whereby. the materia f the flange, on a section through the center of v the maximum opening, taken at right angles WILLIAM H. SPIKE. 

